D
ANIEL
:
S
TUDIES IN THE
E
ND
T
IMES
–
M
IKE
B
ICKLE
Quick Facts and Terminology Related to the End Times
Page 4
International House of Prayer of Kansas City ihopkc.org
Free Teaching Library mikebickle.org
Quick Facts and Terminology Related to the End Times
I.
THREE VIEWS OF THE MILLENNIUM
A.
The Millennium is a literal 1,000-year period in which Jesus will return to the earth to rule the
whole world from Jerusalem in righteousness, peace, and prosperity as the King of kings.
The term millennium is from the Latin mille (a thousand) and annus (a year).
4
They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…
6
…they shall be priests of God and
of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4-6)
B.
Postmillennialism: Jesus will return after (post-) His 1,000-year millennial rule. This view says
that the Church establishes the Millennium by fully Christianizing the world before He returns.
Postmillennialism is an overly optimistic eschatology. It was most popular in 1700–1900 when
the Spirit was restoring the truths of social action and human rights. At that time, many believers
thought things would get better and better until Jesus returned. The two world wars in the 20th
century caused postmillennialism to fall out of favor because its optimism was seen as wrong.
C.
Amillennialism: This means no Millennium. This view teaches that Jesus’ 1,000-year reign is
not a literal earthly reign, but merely a spiritual victory over sin in the heart of the believer.
1.
This view interprets most end-time prophecy as symbolic and embraces replacement
theology, which teaches that the Church “replaces” Israel as the heir to Israel’s promises.
2.
Preterism: Most amillennialists and postmillennialists have a preterist view of the end
times. Preterit is a verb tense that describes a past action. Preterism teaches that end-time
prophecy has already been completely fulfilled in the past—in 70 AD, when Jerusalem
was destroyed by Rome. It sees the Tribulation and the Antichrist as fulfilled in 70 AD.
D.
Premillennialism: Jesus will return before (pre-) His 1,000-year millennial rule on the earth.
This is the only view that interprets end-time prophecy in a literal way and teaches the salvation
of Israel and her primary leadership role in the nations during the Millennium (Isa. 2:2-4).
E.
There are two main types of premillennialism:
1. Historic premillennialism: Teaches post-tribulation rapture—Jesus returns after the
Great
Tribulation.
IHOPKC
teaches
historic
premillennialism,
with
a
victorious
praying
church.
2. Dispensational premillennialism: Teaches pre-tribulation rapture—Jesus returns before
the Great Tribulation. This is a new theology that was first systematized in England in the
1830s by John N. Darby, then made popular in America by the Scofield Bible.
It is called dispensational because it teaches that God relates differently to people in
seven dispensations (or seasons) of history. It includes: 1) two covenants of salvation
(one for Israel and one for the Church); 2) a literal interpretation of Scripture;
3) premillennialism; 4) pretribulation rapture; 5) imminency—Jesus may return at any moment
.
D
ANIEL
:
S
TUDIES IN THE
E
ND
T
IMES
–
M
IKE
B
ICKLE
Quick Facts and Terminology Related to the End Times
Page 5
International House of Prayer of Kansas City ihopkc.org
Free Teaching Library mikebickle.org
II.
OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL
A.
The first section is historical (Dan. 1-6): Highlights six episodes in Daniel’s life
Daniel 1: Dedication of youth, refuses to compromise, embraces a fasted lifestyle in Babylon
Daniel 2: Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream – receiving the word of Lord in crisis
Daniel 3: Being a faithful witness (Rev. 13); deliverance from the fiery furnace
Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream – calling leaders to righteousness
Daniel 5: Belshazzar’s feast – the sudden downfall of governments (fall of Babylon)
Daniel 6: Daniel in the lion’s den – supernatural deliverance of believers in persecution
B.
The second section is prophetic (Dan. 7-12): Four visions that each relate to Israel’s destiny and
conflict with the nations and how God plans to transition the earth to the age to come.
Daniel 7: 1st vision is of four world empires in history and the little horn (Antichrist)
Daniel 8: 2nd vision is of a ram, goat, and little horn (Antiochus/Antichrist) persecuting Israel
Daniel 9: 3rd vision is of Gabriel and the 70-weeks prophecy of Israel’s trouble and salvation
Daniel 10-12: 4th vision is of Israel’s persecution (Antiochus/Antichrist) and final restoration
C.
God determined that it would take “70 weeks” (490 years) to prepare Israel for world leadership.
A week in ancient Israel was a period of seven days or seven years. Most agree that a week here
refers to a “week of years” (seven years) not a “week of days” (seven days). Thus, 70 weeks or
“70 units of 7 years” totals 490 years. Most scholars agree that a week in this passage refers to
seven years, since interpreting it as days does not have a historical application.
24
“Seventy weeks are determined for…your holy city [Jerusalem]…” (Dan. 9:24)
D.
One view is that the “prophetic clock of the 490 years” only goes forward when Israel is in the
promised land and living in a restored Jerusalem (as her capital), with a functioning temple.
Seventy Weeks
7 weeks
49 years
62 weeks
434 years
69 weeks
483 years
70 weeks
490 years
D
ANIEL
:
S
TUDIES IN THE
E
ND
T
IMES
–
M
IKE
B
ICKLE
Quick Facts and Terminology Related to the End Times
Page 6
International House of Prayer of Kansas City ihopkc.org
Free Teaching Library mikebickle.org
w
610
600
590
580
570
560
550
540
530
520
610
600
590
580
570
560
550
540
530
520
Daniel Chronology
610 - 516 BC
Babylonian Empire
Nebuchadnezzar
606
Medo-Persian Empire
Nabonidus
Belshazzar
Cyrus
Darius the Mede
Cambyses
Darius I
562
556 553
539
525
531
522
Book of Daniel
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Nebzr’s
dream
Ch. 3
Fiery
furnace
Ch. 4
Nebzr’s
insanity
Ch. 5
Feast
Ch. 6
Lion’s den
Ch. 9
3rd vision
538
Ch. 10-12
4th vision
536
Ch. 8
2nd vision
551
Ch. 7
1st vision
553
Book of Ezekiel
Book of Ezra
Book of Jeremiah
70-Year Jewish Captivity
606
Daniel &
friends
597
Ezekiel &
10,000
captives
586
Jerusalem
destroyed
Zerubbabel
538
Decree of
Cyrus
520
Temple
resumed
516
Temple
finished
3 stages of captivity
536
Temple
started
D
ANIEL
:
S
TUDIES IN THE
E
ND
T
IMES
–
M
IKE
B
ICKLE
Quick Facts and Terminology Related to the End Times
Page 7
International House of Prayer of Kansas City ihopkc.org
Free Teaching Library mikebickle.org
III.
TIMELINE (* dates are approximate, since the precise date is unknown)
750 BC*
Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would release Israel to return to Jerusalem (Isa. 44:28)
721 BC
Assyria exiles Israel under Sennacherib
626–539 BC
Babylonian Empire
606 BC
The first deportation of Jewish captives to Babylon, Daniel taken to Babylon
606–536 BC
70 years in which the Jewish captives were in Babylon
600 BC*
Jeremiah prophesied that the captivity in Babylon would last for 70 years (Jer. 29:10-14)
603 BC
Daniel chapter 2 vision (Nebuchadnezzar)
597 BC
The second deportation of Jewish captives to Babylon, including Ezekiel
586 BC
Jerusalem and the temple destroyed (by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon)
586 BC
The third deportation of Jewish captives to Babylon
553–539 BC
Belshazzar’s reign
553 BC
Daniel received his 1st vision - Daniel 7
551 BC
Daniel received his 2nd vision - Daniel 8
539–331 BC
Persian Empire
539 BC
King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon
538 BC First year of Darius the Mede
538 BC
King Cyrus’ decree issued, allowing the exiles to return to Israel
538 BC
Daniel received his 3rd vision (while reading Jer. 29) - Daniel 9 (70-weeks prophecy)
536 BC
Daniel received his 4th vision - Daniel 10-12
536 BC
The Jewish exiles arrived in Jerusalem (to build the temple with Zerubbabel
520 BC
The Jerusalem temple was restarted (after a 16-year delay) - Haggai and Zechariah
516 BC
The Jerusalem temple construction was completed
458 BC
King Artaxerxes’ decree to Ezra starts the 70 weeks (Ezra 4:12, 21; 7:12-26).
445 BC Artaxerxes’ decree to Nehemiah
409 BC Ezra and Nehemiah finish initial rebuilding Jerusalem
407 BC New governor of Judah takes over from Nehemiah (from “The Elephantine Papyri”)
331–146 BC
Greek Empire
323 BC
Death of Alexander the Great, 32 years old
175–164 BC
Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes (desecrated the temple, foreshadows the Antichrist)
167–160 BC
Maccabean Revolt
146 BC–1453 AD
Roman Empire - east and west
146 BC–476 AD
Roman Empire - western division
330–1453 AD
Roman Empire - eastern division
26/27 AD
Start of Jesus’ ministry
29/30 AD
Crucifixion of Jesus
66–73 AD
Jewish-Roman war
70 AD Destruction of Second Temple and Jerusalem by Rome (Titus)